Indy 500 Festival Defines the Month of May

One of the largest festivals in the nation, the Indy 500 Festival is a series of events that take place throughout the month of May in Indianapolis, leading up to the running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). Nearly half a million Hoosiers participate in the festivities. This year's festival theme is "Laps, Legends and Legacy: Honoring the 100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway."

The 500 Festival is a non-profit organization, and the events and programs of the festival are run primarily by volunteers.

Festival Events

Festival events and programs for 2009 will include the following:

• Centennial Era Balloon Festival
• Firestone Indy Lights Practice
• Rookie Orientation Program
• 93rd Indy 500 Opening Day
• Fast Friday
• Pole Day
• Qualifications
• Indy 500 Practice Days
• The 500 Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard
• The Coke Zero Music Festival
• Armed Forces Day
• Chase 500 Festival Kids' Day and Rookie Run
• American Family Insurance 500 Festival Community Day
• Firestone Freedom 100 Practice
• Miller Lite Carb Day Concert
• The Indy 500 Parade
• The Regions 500 Festival Snakepit Ball

And, of course, last but not least, the running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.

The Festival's Beginnings

The first 500 Festival took place in 1957, and was the brainchild of four Indianapolis businessmen: Indianapolis Mayor Alex Clark; Joe Quinn, Safety Director for the IMS; J. Worth Baker, Shrine Potentate in 1957; and Howard Wilcox, promotions director for the Indianapolis Star. That first festival consisted of a parade and a square dance gala. More than 150,000 witnessed the parade, and the Boy Scouts began their annual tradition of handling parade seating.